Open AccessMatrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization tandem reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometry of fullerenes
Author(s) -
Marcela M. Cordero,
Timothy J. Cornish,
Robert J. Cotter
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
journal of the american society for mass spectrometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.961
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1879-1123
pISSN - 1044-0305
DOI - 10.1016/1044-0305(96)00058-x
Subject(s) - reflectron , chemistry , mass spectrometry , collision induced dissociation , ion , analytical chemistry (journal) , ionization , mass spectrum , fragmentation (computing) , tandem mass spectrometry , ion source , time of flight , dissociation (chemistry) , time of flight mass spectrometry , matrix assisted laser desorption electrospray ionization , atomic physics , thermal ionization mass spectrometry , physics , chromatography , organic chemistry , computer science , operating system
Atandem reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometer developed in our laboratory provides a unique opportunity to investigate the collision-induced dissociation of fullerene ions formed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI). Specifically, this opportunity arises from the ability to utilize high energy collisional activation (normally available only on tandem sector instruments by using continuous ionization techniques) for ions formed by pulsed laser desorption, whereas most MALDI time-of-flight instruments record product ion mass spectra of ions formed by metastable or postsource decay. In this study we investigate the products of mass-selected and collisionally activated C 60 (+) and C 70 (+) ions by using different target gases over a range of target gas pressures. In general, heavier target gases produce more extensive fragmentation and improve the mass resolution of lower mass ionic products because a greater portion of these ions are formed by single collisions. Additionally, the tandem time-of-flight instrument utilizes a nonlinear (curved-field) reflectron in the second mass analyzer that enables high energy collision-induced dissociation spectra to be recorded without scanning or stepping the reflectron voltage.